West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City were drawn to face each other in the fourth round of the FA Cup - but first they must negotiate third-round replays on January 17.

Aston Villa have been drawn at home to Port Vale while, in the unlikely event of Burton Albion defeating Manchester United in a third-round replay at Old Trafford a week tomorrow, they would face Wolverhampton Wanderers away.

If Nuneaton Borough defeat Middlesbrough in a third-round replay, they will face Coventry City away in a derby that would be as intriguing as the potential one between Albion and Birmingham at The Hawthorns.

If Tamworth win their replay at home to Stoke City on January 17, they could face Walsall who replay against Barnsley on the same night.

Birmingham performed poorly in the third round against Torquay United last Saturday, as did Albion at home to Reading. Both will need to improve if they are to progress.

David Gold, the Birmingham chairman, has mixed feelings about the draw. "If we win against Torquay, I will be rooting for West Brom, because that would make it a brilliant local derby," Gold said.

"But, on the other hand, I would have preferred an easier home tie in the fourth round. Still, West Brom are a great club, full of nice people, and if we can meet them in the next round that would make it a great occasion."

However, so inept were Birmingham last Saturday that Leroy Rosenior, the Torquay manager, has suggested that his team can create a surprise by winning the replay at St Andrew's.

He said: "When I heard Trevor Brooking [who conducted the draw] say 'last 32' I thought 'Is that really us?' It is just great to be involved. After Saturday everybody is thinking we can go to Birmingham and get a result. We think we can play better on a better surface."

Burton landed a dream fourth-round draw for their club physiotherapist, Matt Brown, against his beloved Wolves.

But neither he nor any of the part-timers who held Manchester United to a goalless draw at the Pirelli Stadium last Sunday dare hope to book their date at Molineux by getting past the Red Devils.

Darren Stride, the Burton striker, best summed up the mood at the Nationwide Conference club. Asked for his thoughts on being paired with Glenn Hoddle's Coca-Cola Championship hopefuls, he said: "It's a great draw for Manchester United and Wolves.

"We'll be lucky to get there - but we'll try our hardest. If we get there it will be another great draw for us."

He said: "It is what I've always wanted. We've got to get past Manchester United first - but I'd love to go to Molineux."

Jez Moxey, the Wolves chief executive, believes that his club are on to a winner whoever they face in the FA Cup.

Moxey's club will most likely take on Manchester United in a Molineux glamour tie - but should the Cup throw up yet another shock and Burton beat the Red Devils, all eyes will be on the Black Country for a different reason.

Moxey said: "It's going to be a fabulous day if Manchester United come or if Burton Albion come.

"Having Burton here will be a local derby which will be great - and, of course, the last time we played Manchester United at Molineux we beat them [in the Premiership in January 2004]. So, when all is said and done, we're really pleased with that draw."

Villa, whose recent sequence in the FA Cup is dreadful, should have few problems in disposing of Port Vale. However, the same was said when Villa faced Doncaster Rovers in the League Cup in November - and Villa were subsequently humbled 3-0.

Port Vale defeated Doncaster in the third round of the FA Cup but Villa are more confident than they were two months ago, having defeated Hull City 1-0 in the third round.

Villa have faced Vale four times in the FA Cup - winning on each occasion. The sides last faced each other at the fourth-round stage in 1990 when Villa won 6-0.

In 1977, Chris Nicholl, John Deehan and Brian Little were on the mark in a 3-0 fifth-round win.

Martin Foyle, the Port Vale manager, said: "I am absolutely delighted. It's a great opportunity for us against local rivals. I'm so pleased for the supporters who travel in numbers - and we hope we can take between 5,000 and 6,000."

Chelsea, the Premiership champions and favourites to win the FA Cup, will travel to play Millwall or Everton, who replay at Goodison Park next week.

Leicester City's reward for their thrilling 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur is another home clash, this time against Southampton.

Brentford, who defeated Stock-port County, have been rewarded with a home tie against Sunder-land while Manchester City will face Wigan Athletic or Leeds United at Eastlands.

Arsenal, the holders, face a difficult task away to Bolton Wanderers while Liverpool, the 2001 winners, will be equally stretched when they play away to Portsmouth.